Coupling for lubricating systems



J MCE. SMITH COUPLING FOR LUBRICATING SYSTEMS Filed Feb. v'7, 1929 Dec.8, 1931.

UQ mm2 gmmr 5j fw la? A Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNIT-En sfrf'ares;

.en TENT olla-"irren J MQELROY SMITH, orV COLUMBUS, V OHIO Appncationleariebruary 7, 1929. semina. 338.102,.

The `invention lrelates .to devices -used in lubricating systems andmore particularly to the couplersv whereby fittings on bearings4 areconneetedgtothe supply means,such asa flexiblepipe through whichtheflub-ricant is delivered from a compressor.k

The primary objects ofthe inventionis: to provide a coupling device, inwhich aspringpressed element for eecting a `seal between the fittingyand the coupling is dispensed with, in which a seal isformed betweenthefitting and almember of thezcouplingdevice by a screw-threaded membervwhich can be easily and quickly manipulated to connect andfdisconnectthe coupling, which is simple inconstruction and can beproduced-at a lowcost, which is adapted'i'orready connection to, and disconnection from,the lubricant vsupply hose, and in which a gasletfor forming a sealagainst kthe fitting may ybe readily replaced when it becomes worn.YOther objects will be apparent from a consideration ofthe followingdetailed description.`

T he invention consists inthe several novel features hereinafter setforthand moreparticularlyl deined by claims attlie conclusion hereoi".l4' i f i In the drawings Fig. f1 is -a :longitudinal sect-ion ot' aCoupling .embodyingthe .preferred form of the' invention. Fig.4 2 a sideelevation. Fig-.Bis a detail'ls'ectionof the adjusting sleeve for the icoupling sleeve. Fig. L1 .is a side elevationof the coupling sleeve.Fig. 5 isa longitudinal section ofa modiiied form 'of the invention.Fig.` 6 is a longitudinal. section of anotherfmodified form of4the-invention.

rfheinvention isexempliiied in a, coupling which is adapteditoconnectaiitting 10 and a tlexiblehose lllnvhiehis connected to a supplyof grease under pressure to deliverjgrease intothe fitting. Thettingfisusually provided with:a*springfelosedvalve 12 for closing a duct13 leading-tothe bearingtowhich the `fitting is. connected and withlaterally projecting .studs 14 formingone element. of" a bayonet catchffor connecting-the coupling to the fitting.

The improved coupling comprises a lbarrel or cylindrical body 1 5 whichis Vixedly connected to the hosejlilby means of a nipple 16 whichisscrewthreaded, as at ;17 into the inner end of the barrel ,157; a stud18 `to the innerend oiwhich the hose. 11 `is fixedly secured; `and acollar 19 Vwhich is screwthreaded5as at 20, to1 theinnerend of nipple 16and has an annularshoulder 21 torclamp a `flangep22 on the stud,againstithe inner end of nipple `16. The outer endofst-ud 18 extendsinto an enlarged bore 23 lin nipple 16 and agcup-shaped gasketg2`tisgpressed against vthe outer face ofthestudby a spring 25. A

grease duct;27 extendsY centrally through the studill to theenlargedborei 23 andI ay duct 28 extends ithrough nipplefl. The vlatteris provided with a polygonal iiange 29, so that thenipplemay be turnedinto the barrel 15. rlihe outer endl of the barrel is inturnedto form ashoulder 15a forv a gasket 3() which is adaptedto be clamped againsttheouter endof fitting 10 to form-a tight seal 4a-ndprevent leakage offgrease lbetween the Iitting andithe coupling. vA plunger;` 31 extendsbetween the, washerv 30 and the outer end of nipple 16, and fits looselyin barrel-,15,-so that it ina-y-beff'orced' outwardly bythe nipple toclampfthe lwasher 30.agar-lstc shoulder 15iL and thus secure the washerinthe barrel. Upon unscrewingthe nipple 16 from thebarrel, the plunger31 may be removed so. the washer can be replaced when 4vdesired.V .Inthe form of the invention illustratedl in Fig. 1, washer 30 iscup-shaped and lthe louter! end of plunger 31 has aperipheral v'grooveBto confine the Side of the'cupfshaped Washer between the barrel' andthe plunger. In the `modification Shown in Fig. 5'a flat washerV4 30 isused and the annularY groove inthe plunger isidispensed with. ,Plunger31 has aduct 34 extending longitudinally therethrough for delivering thelubricant under pressure tofthe outerv end of thefbarrel. Y i

A cou-pling'sleeve' fits Varoundthe periphery `of the outer portion ofthebarrel 15 and is slidable longitudinally' on or rela- 1 tively :to`the barrel." The outer endof sleeve 3,5fhas a'eylindrical'opening 36-and angular grooves' toreceive the stud 141 ofthe pin fitting., -Byslipping the end. ofsleeve V35 THT over, the.v fitting l10 with thestudS 14 .in `the "'f`* rotatable around barrely 15 and couplingV sleeve35 and is confined against longitudinal movement on or relatively to'thebarrel 15.' Sleeve 40 is formed with an'internal screw-y thread 41 andsleeve 35 with an external thread 42 engaging with said internal thread,so that by rotation of the adjusting sleeve 40 the coupling vsleeve 35vmay be positively operated longitudinally of the barrel 15 to shift thefitting 10 into rand' out of the lopening 1550i: the barrel.Y The outerperiphery of sleeve' 40 kislrnurled, so that it may be readily grippedfor turning. For thevpur* pose of confining the sleeve 4() againstlongitndinalmovement on the barrel 15 while permitting said sleeve tolrotate thereon, an annular flange 44 is vformed on the peripheig7 ofthe barrel adjacent its. inner en washer 45 engages the shoulder 46 inthe sleeve 40, and a collar 47 having a recess 48 fitting around thefiange 44, is screw-thread'- ed,v as at 49, to the inner end of sleeve40 to clamp washer 45 against shoulder 46 in properly spaced relation'toleave the sleeve free for rotation around the barrel 15, but confiningit against longitudinal movement. Thecollar 47 and washer 45 provide asimple construction which may be produced at a low cost for removablyconnecting` the` coupler sleeveA and the barrel, sothat they may bereplaced when desired. A

In operation, the sleeve 35 is slipped over the fitting 10 and rotatedto lock the sleeve and fitting together. Next, the adjusting sleeve 40is turned in one direction to" cause its screw-threaded connection withthe coupling sleeve 35 to draw the latter firmly against the washer 30so that a tight Aseal will be formed to prevent leakage of lubricantVaround the fitting.. The greasel will then be forced through thecoupling into the fitting, as well .understood in the art. When thegreasing has beencompleted, the adjusting sleeve 40 will be rotated inthe opposite direction to withdraw the fitting 10 from the barrel 15,and the sleeve 35 is then uncoupled from the fitting.

In' Fig. 6 is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which thebarrel 15i is provided with an integral convex seat 15g which is adaptedto engage and be securely clamped against the fitting 10. Thisexemplifies a construction for use in which a metal-to-metal seal isdesired.

The invention exemplifies an improved coupling for lubricating systemsin which the fitting and coupling are adapted to be drawn together intotightly fitting relation by a screwssleeve; which is simple inconstruction, in which all of the parts can be removed for replacementand can be easily assembled.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details setforth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appendedclaims, without departing from the spirit and `scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a'coupling for lubricating systems, the combination of a barrel, anipple at one end of the barrel for connecting said barrel to a sourceof lubricant-supply, a couplingsleeve mounted to slide longitudinally onthe outside of the barrel and provided with means whereby it may bedetachably interlocked with a fitting, a washer forming a seat for thefitting in the other end of the barrel, a member disposed in the barreland clamped against the washer by the nipple in order to hold the Washerin place, a rotatable adjusting-sleeve held against longitudinal1novement on the barrel, and a screw-thread connection between thesleeves adapted upon rotation of the adjusting sleeve in one directionto effect relative longitudinal movement of' the barrel andcoupling-sleeve and clamp the fitting and seat together.

2. In a coupling for lubricating systems, the combination of a barrelprovided with an internal shoulder adjacent one end thereof, a nipplefor connnecting the other end of the barrel to a source oflubricant-supply, a coupling sleeve mounted to slide longitudinally onthe outside of the barrel and provided with means whereby it may bedetachably interlocked with a fitting, a removable seat for thefitting', disposed in the barrel and against the shoulder, a plungerremovable from the barrel and held by said nipple so as to clamp theseat against the shoulder, a rotatable adjusting-sleeve held againstlongitudinal movement on the barrel, and a screw-thread connectionbetween the sleeves adapted upon rotation of the adjusting-sleeve in onedirection to effect relative longitudinal movement of the barrel andcoupling-sleeve and clamp the lfitting and seat together. 3. In acoupling for lubricating systems, the combination of a barrel providedwith a flange, means for connecting one end of the barrel to a source oflubricant-supply, a couling-sleeve longitudinally slidable on the Earreland provided with means at one end thereof whereby it may be detachablyinterlocked with a fitting, a seat connected to the other end of thebarrel for engaging the outer end of the fitting, an adj usting sleeverotatable on the barrel, a screw-thread connection between the sleevesadapted upon rotation of Y the adjusting-sleeve in one direction toeffect relative longitudinal movement of the barrel and Coupling-sleeveand clamp the fitting against the seat, and lmeans for holding theadjusting-sleeve against longitudinal movement on the barrel comprisinga colla-r screwthreaded to the other end of the adjusting sleeve andengaging one side of the flange, and a ooaeting member held in theadjusting sleeve and engaging the other side of said flange.

1l. In a coupling for lubricating systems, the combination of a barrelprovided with a peripheral flange, means for Connecting the inner end ofthe barrel to a source of lubricant-supply, a Coupling-sleevelongitudinally slidable on the barrel and provided with ineens at oneend thereof whereby it may be detaehably interloeked With a fitting, aseat Connected to the other end of the barrel for engaging the outer endof the fitting, an adjusting-sleeve rotatable on the barrel and providedWith an internal shoulder, la screwthread connection between theVsleeves adapted upon vrotation of the adjusting-sleeve in one directionto effect relative longitudinal movement of the barrel andcoupling-sleeve and clamp the fitting against the seat, and means forholding the sleeve against longitudinal movement on the barrelcomprising a Collar screw-threaded to the other end of the adjustingsleeve and engaging one side'of the flange, and a ring held in theadjusting sleeve and against the shoulder by the collar and engaging theother side of the flange.

Signed at Columbus, Ohio, thisl'th day of January, 1929.

J MCELROY SMITH.

